HOUSTON. NASA and Boeing have recently completed the Ground Segment Critical Design Review for the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft. The baseline design for the Commercial Crew Transportation System has also been set, moving the project one step closer to the planned early 2017 voyage to the International Space Station.

Now that the Certification Baseline Review is complete, construction on system hardware, including the spacecraft and United Launch Alliance (ULA) launch vehicle adaptor can begin.

NASA awarded Boeing the $4.2 billion contract in September 2014. Setting the design was the first milestone; the second in the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) phase of the Commercial Crew Program – the Ground System Critical Design Review – evaluates all of the ground operations and systems, the control center, facilities, mission operation systems, and training systems (including mock-ups and trainers).

Being developed in partnership with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft will provide a U.S. system for transporting astronauts and cargo to low-Earth orbit destinations, such as the ISS. The CST-100 will be able to accommodate up to seven people, or a mix of crew and cargo, and features Boeing LED “Sky Lighting” technology, a weldless architecture, and Wi-Fi.